Adjustable shears



.May 16, 1939- s. G. sTUcKEY ADJUSTABLE SHEARS Filed Nov. 29, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l Myl, 1939- s. G. sTucKEY 2,158,708

ADJUSTABLE sHEARs Y Filed Nov. V29, 1935 s sheets-sheet 2 Patented May 16, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE SHEARS corporation Application November 29, `1935, Serial No. 52,181

6 Claims.

This invention relates to glass cutting shears and it provides means for closely adjusting the shears to the proper point of cut and likewise provides shears of this type that are so operated as to cause the mass of glass cut off to be deformed in the proper direction relative to the molds into which the gob of glass passes.

Glass cutting shears as generally found are of the type having two opposing relatively movable blades, the one reciprocating across the other, or swinging across the other by pivotal action. Necessarily, since the blades must have some thickness, and since the glass is molten and soft, the striking of the blades on opposite sides of the mass of glass produces a squeezing or transverse deformation of the portion severed at and adjacent the point of shear, bringing the end of the glass to almost an edge. The resulting gob of glass is frequently found to have not only a reduced transverse dimension adjacent the point of cutwhich dimension may conveniently be referred to as minor axis; but also has an extenuated transverse dimension at right angles to the minor axis-this last dimension may be designated major axis. A view of the gob from its flattened side discloses somewhat pointed iianges turned out at the sides thereof adjacent the sheared end, along the narrowed faces or sides of the gob, these flanges being made up of glass that was squeezed out by the shear blade action.

The deformation above mentioned occurs similarly on the end of the glass from which the gob has been severed, which end projects fro-m the forehearth. As a matter of fact, the deformation is apt to be more pronounced on such ends than on the upper surface of the gob, since the weight of the gob tends to draw it out and away from the shears, thus reducing the deformations.

In many operations the feeder does not withdraw this projecting end back into the forehearth, or only partially so. In such cases the deformations will appear on the bottom of a subsequent gob.

Normally the gobs of glass pass from the feeder, after being sheared, into molds. For example, they may drop through a funnel into a parison mold. If the object being molded has a transverse cross section that is elongated, it is important that the major transverse axis of the mold align with the major axis of the bottom or entering end of the gob. If the xes do not align, the forming of the glass in the mold produces folds, or lines in the finished object. To illustrate, suppose the major axis of the gob is so far Vmisaligned as to coincide with the minor axis of the mold, then as the glass drops through the funnel into themold, the necessary constriction of the gob by the edges of the mold causes the extra quantity comprising the flanges on the gob previously referred to, to roll over into the sides of the gob. Since by this time the gob is surrounded with a chilled film, generally called enamel, these rolled over flanges will not fuse into the remaining glass, but will form indentations in the enamel in which they rest. It will be understood that the same eiect, to a greater or less degree, Will occur when the major axis of the gob falls between the major and minor axes of the mold.

However, when the major axes of gob and mold are aligned, not only is the above diiiiculty eliminated, but also the extra quantity of i glass found in the flanges, or disposed along the longer major axis, acts to ll up the longer space along the major axis of the mold.

Hence it is apparent that it is important that the major axis of the gob align with the major axis of the mold.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide means for properly aligning the major axis of a gob with the major axis of mold.

To the attainment of this object, this invention comprehends the locating of the shears of a glass cutting device so that the general direction of compressive forces produced thereby are aligned with the minor axis of the mold.

It is a further object to provide a mechanism of this kind wherein the relative position of shear and mold is adjustable.

It is .a further object to provide means for adjusting the shears angularly relative to the mold, and relative to the glass outlet.

It is a further object to provide means for reciprocably adjusting the shears relative to the glass outlet, with respect to horizontal, and vertical, positions.

Further objects include specific mechanisms whereby the above objects are attained.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the shear device as applied to a forehearth shown partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Fig, 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a section on the line 1 1 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is an enlarged section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 10-12 are illustrations of a gob of glass in successive stages of shearing, showing shear effect. Figs. 11 and l2 are taken at right angles to each other.

In Figs. 10, 11 and 12 of the drawings, are shown representative shapes of a gob of glass being discharged from the orifice I I, by any conventional forming means. In Fig. 10 the gob is shown to have necked in adjacent the shears, preparatory to being cut. Fig. 1l discloses the effect of the shears as viewed along the major axis, or along the line at which the shear blades cross. The effect of overlapping the shear blades, in displacing the gob is shown, as is the squeezing effect thereof, that causes the upper end of the gob to be shaped almost to an edge. Likewise the edge produced on the glass projecting from the forehearth above the shears is shown. In this gure and Fig. 10, this last named edge is shown to be present on the bottom of the gob, having resulted from the previous cut.

In Fig. 12, a View at right angles to Fig. 11 is given. This view is taken along the minor axis of the ends of the gob. The flattened. ends, with the flanges, are shown. Referring to the lower part of the gob, it is seen that the flanges are displaced upwardly from a rounded bottom. This result obtains because fresh glass was forced into the projection after the previous shearing, to produce the gob, and this glass stretched the enamel on the projection.

In Fig. l, I0 indicates a forehearth shown somewhat diagrammatically, the forehearth having an outlet orifice II in the bottom thereof through which the gob of glass may be extruded by suitable feeding mechanism, as is well known in the art. A forming machine is illustrated at I2. The forming machine includes a movable table or other support upon which are mounted molds. Such molds are shaped to a suitable formation, and usually are divided into two separable sections. In the present case, the molds in use may be considered as being elongated in transverse cross section.

Although any means of conveying the severed gob of glass from the forehearth to the mold is contemplated in the present invention, for illustration the gob is shown as following from the forehearth into an elongated funnel I3, the major axis of which is aligned with the major axis of the mold.

In the type of forming machine herein disclosed, the table holding the molds is mounted on a vertical axis of rotation I4, and several molds are located around the periphery of the table. The radius of the table is such as to bring each mold successively beneath the orice II, to receive a severed gob of glass. The radius of the table, and the location of its vertical axis are variable, but obviously must be so arranged that the circle upon which the molds are mounted intersects a vertical line dropped from the forehearth orifice. In the present forming machine, it may be assumed that the major axes of the molds are radial to the pivot I4. When one mold on the table is charged, the table is rotated to bring a subsequent one beneath the orifice.

The shears generally indicated at I5 are located beneath the orifice II in position to cut off an extruded gob of glass suspended below the orifice. It will be understood that the operation of the shears is properly timed relative to the operation of the feeder mechanism.

The shear mounting includes a support I6 bolted to the forehearth or to any suitable support. Adjacent one edge, the support I6 is provided with a boss I 1 (Fig. 4). This boss has a vertical bore I8 therein, in which bore I8 operates an adjusting screw I9 having a handle 20 thereon. A collar 2l is pinned onto the screw I9 to support the screw and prevent its withdrawal.

A sliding frame 22 has an offset 23 that is threaded to receive the adjusting screw I9. It

will be seen that operation of the handle 29 adto the support I6. A vertical slot 30 in the frame L 22 is provided to accommodate for the screw 26 during vertical adjustment of the frame 22 relative to the support I6. The slot 30 extends all the way through the frame 22 and is provided with a widened portion 3I to accommodate the head 21 of the screw 26, the head having fiattened sides to engage the walls of the slot at 3I and prevent rotation of the screw.

Mounted for horizontal sliding movement in the frame 22 is a plate 35. A key 36 operates in g suitable key-ways in the frame 22 and the plate 35 and guides the latter in its horizontal movement. A screw 31 is threadedly fixed at one end in the frame 22. At the other end, it extends through the upturned end flange on the plate 35. This end likewise is threaded, and the nut 38 engages around this last named end. A horizontal slot 4D is provided in the flange of the plate 35 to accommodate the screw 31 during the horizontal movement of the plate. When the plate is properly adjusted, the nut 38 is tightened, which binds the plate 35 to the frame 22 and holds the plate thus in position. The screw 31 also assists in supporting the plate 35.

Extending laterally from the frame 22 is a boss 45. This boss has an internally threaded bore 46 through which a horizontal screw 41 engages. A hollow extension 48 is secured to the plate 35. In the extension 48 is housed the head 49 of the screw 41. The screw 41 is likewise provided with an operating handle 59. It will be understood that rotation of the handle 59 threads the screw 41 into or out of the boss 45 and by means of the engagement of the head 49 within the hollow extension thereof, the plate 35 is i* moved horizontally across or back on the frame 22. The hollow extension is shown in Fig. 6 and is seen to be removably attached to the flange on plate 35 by means of suitable screws 5I.

The plate 35 extends laterally outward from the support I6. Slidably mounted on the top surface of the plate is an arm 55. This arm is supported on the plate by means of a suitable nut and screw arrangement 56 extending through the plate 35 and through a slot 51 in the arm 55. A washer may be provided between the nut and the arm 55. The slot 51 permits relative adjustment between the arm 55 and the plate 35. A key 5B fits into suitable key-ways in the plate 35 and the arm 55 and directs the adjustment. Secured to the under surface of the plate 35 is an angle 59 having a vertical portion 66 in which there is an opening 6I. The arm 55 is provided with a boss 62 having a threaded bore 63 therethrough aligned with the opening 6I in the leg 60 of the' angle 59. An adjusting screw 64 is rotatably mounted in the opening 6I and provided with collars to prevent axial movement of the screw relative to the angle iron. The outer end of this screw 64 is threaded through the opening 83 in the boss G2. A handle 65 is provided for rotating the screw. It will be seen that when the nut E is loosened slightly, the handle 85 may be rotated to adjust the arm 55 across and back on the plate 35 in a direction of movement controlled by the key 58. As will be pointed out hereafter, this direction of movement is parallel to the ultimate major axis of the gob of glass severed.

The outer portion of the arm 55 is flattened on both its upper and lower surfaces and has a circular opening 10 therethrough. An air cylinder 1I has a circular boss 12 extending from the top thereof and which fits into the bore 10. The boss 12 extends upwardly from the flange 13 but terminates short of the top surface of the arm 55. A washer 14 spans across the top of the bore 10 and supports a screw 15 threaded into the cylinder 1|. It will be seen that tightening the screw 15 draws the boss 12 into the bore and forces the flange 'I3 to bind the cylinder into position. As will be pointed out, this provides for a swinging adjustment of the shears.

In order to hold the cylinder in one position of adjustment, a plurality of screws 13 engage through the arm 55 and may be threaded into the flange 13 of the cylinder 1|. The purpose of this fixed position will be explained hereinafter.

In order to effect a close adjustment of the cylinder about the arm 55, the arm is provided with an extension 80 at its outer end. On a portion of the cylinder 1|, such as the cylinder head 8|, is an extension 82. Between these extensions B0 and 82 is an adjusting screw 83 designed in the manner to be described.

Upstanding from the extension 82 is a stud 84 having a shoulder 85 that rests upon the extension 82, the stud being of reduced diameter on either side of the shoulder. The stud extends through the extension 82 and may be secured thereto by a nut 88. Around the upper end of the stud 84 is tted a collar 81 pivotable about the stud to a proper position of adjustment and adapted to be held in such position by a nut 88. To this collar 81 is fixed, integrally or otherwise, the adjusting screw 83. This adjusting screw 83 extends back beneath the extension 88 on the arm 55.

To the underside of the extension 80 is secured a plate 90 having a screw 9| integrally formed therewith, which screw extends through a suitable opening 92 in the extension 80 and may be rotated therein. A nut 93 on the upper side o the extension 80 may be tightened down to hold the screw 9| in xed position of rotation. The plate 98 has a semi-circular depression 94 therein. A plate 95 having a complementary semicircular depression 95 therein is bolted to the plate 90 by means of screws 91. Within the circular opening formed by the complementary recesses 94 and 96 is seated an internally threaded rotatable sleeve |80. This sleeve receives the adjusting screw 83. The sleeve is provided with integral shoulder elements |0| and |02 that abut the opposite edges of the united plates 8|) and 95. By this means, the sleeve may be rotated by its handle |83 without axial displacement, and will axially displace the adjusting screw 83.

In operating this adjustment feature, necessarily the nuts B6 and 93 are loosened somewhat prior toy operating the hand wheel |03. The stud 84 and screw 92 form pivots by their close ts in extensions 82 and 80, respectively.

The cylinder 'II is provided with the aforementioned cylinder head 8| at one end and with a similar cylinder head |05 at the other end. The cylinder head |05 is held on by means of suitable screws |06. The cylinder head 8| is held in place by suitable bolts |81. The head 8| is provided with an air connection I 88 and the head |05 is provided with an air connection |89. It will be understood that these air connections supply or exhaust air from the respective ends of the cylinder. Reciprocating within the cylinder under the action of air supply, through the aforementioned connections, is a piston of any suitable character to which is connected a piston rod H0. Secured to this piston rod III) is a cross head III.

As the shears themselves do not form any part of this invention outside of the combination, detailed explanation of them need not be given. Generally, however, it will be seen that the cross head III has an extension I|2 thereon sliding in a channel groove in the shear head II3. The sheer head has rods II4 xed thereto, the rods extending back through and, reciprocably bearing in, the cross head I I I and suitable extensions II5 on the cylinder head 8|. Each of these sliding rods is provided with nuts IIS threaded thereon to limit outward movement of the shear head ||3 and provide an adjustment for this limit. One of these nuts comprises a lock nut. The shear blades ||1 are pivoted on a screw IIS secured to an upstanding boss I|9 on the shear head I I3. This boss IIS stands up in the middle of the channel in the shear head |I3. The extension I |2 of the cross-head I II is bifurcated at its outer end, so as to straddle the boss H9. The screw II8 extending through the shear blades II'I, and the boss II9, is surrounded at its lower end by a spring |20. A nut |2| holds these parts in place, the spring providing a ilexible mounting for the Shear blades that acts to compensate for wear.

The shear head I I3 has a depending portion |25 thereon. In suitable relation thereto# is an element |26 secured to the crosshead III. An adjusting screw |21, held in suitable adjusting position by a lock screw |28, adjusts the relative positions of the cross head and the elementv I i2. As has been noted, the element Il2 is slidably mounted in the shear head I I3. Springs I 28 surrounding the rods ||4 act to separate the crosshead I I I and the shear head I I3.

Upstanding pins are secured to the bifurcations of the extension II2. These engage in slots I3| in the respective shear blades. By this means the shear blades may be closed. As will be shown, the normal open position of the blades is limited by their striking the corners |32 on the shear head II3.

The operation of this shear mechanism is as follows: referring to Fig. l, application of air through the air supply |89 forces the air piston and the rod III) to the right, carrying the cross head III therewith, they being secured together. Owing to the action of the springs |29, the shear head ||3 will likewise be moved in this process until the nuts IIB strike the cylinder head extensions II5. This point is adjusted by the nuts IIB so that the shear blades |I1 are properly located beneath the orifice II.

When the nuts IIB thus engage the cylinder head extension H5 outward movement of the shear head II3 ceases. In view of the fact that the shear blade pivot II8 is mounted on the shear head I I3, the boss I I9 being integral therewith, it likewise stops moving. Further outward movement of the cross head III then acts to compress the springs Ii4, there being thus relative movement between the cross head III with its extension I I2, and the shear head I I3. As the pins I 39 are carried by the extension II2, they are moved outwardly relative to the shear head, the boss I I9, and the blade pivot I I8. These pins |30 by their association in the slots I3I close the shear blades II1 and sever the glass suspended from the orice II. The shear blades in closing overlap, causing the lateral displacement of the severed gob, as heretofore mentioned. The displacement varies with the amount of overlap. The adjusting screw I21 forms a limit to the movement of the cross head II I relative to the shear head II3, thus stopping the movement of the former, after a given amount of travel. Therefore this adjusting screw controls the blade overlap.

The operation of the device as a whole is as follows:

The forming machine I2 is set up in the desired location relative to the forehearth I with the molds represented by funnels I3, adapted to come beneath the orifice II.

The shears are generally assembled with all the parts secured together in tentative position. The frame 22 is now mounted over the key 24 and the adjusting screw I9 is threaded into the projection 23. The screw 26 is set in place through the slot 30 and the nut 29 turned down to hold the screw. The plate is then engaged over the key 36 with the screw 31 passing through the slot 4D. The nut 38 is then threaded over the screw 31.

The horizontal adjusting screw is slipped through the bore 46 in the frame 22, the retaining plate 48 having previously been engaged over the head 49. The handle 50 is then pinned on to the screw 41 and the retaining plate 48 is secured to the plate 45 by means of the screws 5I.

The arm is then located over the plate 35 and the key 58. The screw 56 will slip through the slot 51 and the nut turned down over the screw. The adjusting screw 64 is then engaged through the boss 62 and the handle 65 pinned thereto.

The shear cylinder 1I is then put into position with the circular boss 12 slipped into the bore 10 on the other end of the arm 55. The washer 14 is then set into place and the screw 15 inserted to hold the cylinder to the arm. It will be understood that the entire shear unit is previously assembled. The adjusting screw 83 is then engaged on the pin 84 and the two nuts 86 and 88 threaded onto the pin 84. This pin then pro-jects back beneath the projection on the arm 55. The plate is set into proper position and held onto the extension 80 by the nut 93. The sleeve IDU, with the handle I63 thereon, is threaded over the adjusting screw 83 to the proper position and then slipped into the semi-circular groove 94 within the plate 99. Complementary plate 95 is then located over the sleeve IDD and secured in place by the screws 91.

It is preferable that the line of advance of the shear piston be on a line radial to the forming machine table as has been described. Where a uniform location of the forming machine, relative to the forehearth is being employed, the angle between the line joining the center of the forming machine table and the center of the forehearth would also be uniform in its angularity to some given horizontal line, such as the end of the forehearth. As this may not vary, the screws 'I6 are provided to x the relative angularity of the shear unit relative to the arm 55. These screws 16 will then hold the shear unit in proper position for this uniform arrangement of the mechanisms.

Hence the screws 16 may be set in position and then turned down tight. Necessarily the adjusting screw 83 will have to be located suitably for this position. With the shears thus located, the vertical adjusting screw I9 is turned by its handle 20 to obtain the proper distance between the orifice I I and the shear blades, as the characteristics of the gob are varied by varying this distance.

Next the horizontal adjusting screw 41 is operated by its handle 50 to displace the shear in it so that the axis of the piston will not be horizontally displaced but will align with the line between the centers of the forming machine pivot or axis and the forehearth orice. Of course, if desired, the shears may be displaced a suitable distance from this line, such as to allow for lateral displacement of the gob caused by the overlap.

It will be understood that in all of these adjustments the several lock nuts are loosened to permit the relative movement and then tightened after the adjustment is completed.

Next the adjusting screw 65 is operated. This produces longitudinal movement axially of the piston rod with the screw 16 in place. This is necessary because the stroke of the piston is limited and its operation must carry the shear blades under the orice. Furthermore, the shears may be employed which do not advance in this manner, the blades remaining Xed and not advancing to the orice before they closed.

The nuts II6 are then set to provide a final adjustment limiting the advancement of the shears underneath the forehearth orice. Following this, the adjusting screw I 21 is xed in the proper position to obtain the desired degree of overlap. This overlap varies with the character of the work being done and will be varied in accordance with the other adjustments so that the gob will fall into the funnel I3 for severing. This overlap control also provides a compensation for wear on the shear blade edges. As the blades are repeatedly ground, their edges retract. This may be compensated for by permitting the blades to close further.

When the relative positions of the forming machine and the forehearth are varied, in order to preserve the alignment of the major axis of the gob and the major axis of the mold, the shears must be pivoted. To accomplish this, the screws 16 are removed, the screw 15 is then loosened sufficiently to permit rotation of the cylinder 1I relative to the arm 55. The nuts 93 and 84 are then loosened. Following this, the adjusting handle |03 can be turned and by the adjusting screw 83 the cylinder 1I may by swung relative to the arm 55. When the shear unit is properly aligned, the nuts 88 and 93 are again tightened to secure the parts in this position of adjustment.

It will be seen that a shear mechanism has been provided that properly positions a gob relative to the mold. The shear further provides means for adjusting the blades relative to the forehearth both vertically and horizontally. Since the horizontal adjustment is in two directions,

the device moves universally. Likewise the shear unit may be pivoted so that the line of the direction or closing of the blades is perpendicular to the major axis of the gob and more particularly may be made perpendicular to a radial line emanating from the center in the forming machine. Furthermore in this combination, the degree of overlap of the blades can be adjustingly controlling the displacement of the gob by the lower plate.

The invention having been described, what is claimed is:

1. In a device of the kind described, a glass discharge mechanism, a base, shears having oppositely moving blades for severing glass emitted from said discharge mechanism, a forming machine having a rotatable support, a plurality of forming devices on said support and adapted to be successively brought beneath the glass discharge mechanism to receive a charge of glass severed by said shears, said forming devices being of elongated transverse section, the major axes of which are radial to said rotatable support, and means mounting sai-d shears on said base so that the direction of movement of said blades is transverse to the major axis of the forming device then in charge receiving position.

2. In a device of the kind described, a glass discharge mechanism, a base member, a cutting member for severing glass from said discharge mechanism, and means mounting said cutting member on said base member, said means including a circular boss upstandlng from one of said members and an opening on the other member to receive said boss, and means for drawing the two members together to hold them in adjusted position.

3. In a device of the kind described, a glass discharge device, a cutting mechanism, a frame, means movably mounting the frame on the glass discharge device, a plate, means movably mounting the plate on the frame, an arm, means movably mounting the arm on the plate, and means mounting the cutting mechanism on the arm, each of the aforesaid movements being in a different direction.

4. The method of controlling the depositing of glass gobs into molds having a cross-section including a major axis comprising locating a mold having a cross-section including a major axis beneath the orifice of a glass discharge mechanism, and thereafterwards adjusting a shear mechanism disposed adjacent said glass discharge mechanism so that the shear blades move in closing and opening along a path substantially at right angles to the major axis of the mold so that a severed gob will have its major axis disposed to correspond to the major axis of the re ceiving mold.

5. In a device of the kind described, a base, a. shear mechanism, and means mounting said shear mechanism upon said base comprising a frame member mounted for vertical adjustment upon the base, a plate mounted upon said frame member for adjustment in a horizontal plane, an arcuate arm mounted upon said plate for adjustment in a horizontal plane independently of said plate adjustment, and means connecting said shear mechanism to said arm for rotary adjustment.

6. In a device of the kind described, a glass discharge mechanism, a base, shears for severing glass emitted from said discharge mechanism, a forming device including a major axis adapted to receive glass discharged from said discharge mechanism, and means mounting said shears on said base for rectilinear horizontal adjustment at an angle to the major axis of the said forming device, said means including only one adjustment assemblage.

SAMUEL G. STUCKEY. 

